Joshua 10: Lessons from God’s Judgment of the Amorites on the End Times

The day God made the sun and the Earth stand still to judge the Canaanites1

Introduction: God’s 400-year warning to the Amorites. “There is an appointed time for everything.” (Ecc. 3:1). God does not always try to make us feel warm and fuzzy inside. Sometimes, He wants you to feel uncomfortable, and He does this for a reason. In chapter 10, Joshua acted at His direction to capture the Amorite cities in Southern Israel. He then killed most of the male prisoners. God never wanted these people to die. He gave them 400 years to repent. He even told Abraham that his descendants would be the instrument of His divine judgment if they failed to repent of their sins. Their sins included child sacrifices, temple prostitution, idolatry, and other wicked practices that violated His Law: “God said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.’” (Gen. 15:13-16).

The judgment during the end times. The judgment of the Amorites also foreshadows what God will be forced to do on a global scale during the Day of Judgment. As He was with the Amorites, God is slow to judge sin but will ultimately do so when nations turn against Him. Some claim that a loving God would never judge others. He is in fact the source of all love: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 Jo. 4:8). Yet, He is also just: “For I, the Lord love justice . ..” (Is. 61:8). As a just God, He cannot ignore sin. Those who have trouble accepting this need only ask if they would like to live in a society where murderers, rapists, and robbers are not judged. Anarchy would reign and people would live in fear. We demand justice because He has put His Law in our hearts (Ro. 2:15). As the source of all justice, He must also judge wrongs. Yet, He tells you these things to motivate you to act. Western societies now embrace many of the practices that caused God to judge the Amorites. Here, He reveals several warnings about the judgment that awaits the unrepentant nations.

First, the Amorites symbolized the wicked people of the world who reject God. The Gibeonites symbolize the remnant who will repent of their sins and turn to Him. From the conspiracy of five Amorite kings against the Gibeonites after they accepted God and submitted to Him, God reveals that the Church will face persecution during the end times. Second, the Gibeonites appealed to Joshua’s help almost immediately after they tricked him into signing a treaty with them. From Joshua’s willingness to come to their aid, God reveals that Jesus will also come out of grace to the aid of His undeserving Church when it cries out in faith for His help. Third, from His supernatural destruction of the Amorites in battle, He reveals that He will also crush those who oppose Him during the end times. Fourth, from His supernatural light that extended the length of the day during the battle, He reveals that no evil will be able to escape His light. Fifth, from the imprisonment of the five Amorite kings in a cave during the battles, He reveals that the rulers of the world during the end times will hide in caves and plead for their death. Sixth, from His judgment of the Amorite kings, He reveals that Satan’s servants will all face judgment. Finally, from Joshua’s destruction of the remaining Amorites during seven final battles, He reveals that all who reject Him will one day face judgment. If a nation condones idolatry, child sacrifices, and sexual practices that are banned under His Law, it will eventually face the same judgment as the Amorites. God wants the thought of this judgment to horrify you. He wants it to motivate you to warn others to repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

1. During the End Times the Church Will Face Persecution. Josh. 10:1-5.

2. Jesus will Return Only After the Church Cries Out in Faith to be Saved. Josh. 10:6-7.

3. Jesus Will Defeat the Enemies of God’s People. Josh. 10:8-11.

4. Jesus’ Light Will Overcome All Darkness. Josh. 10:12-14.

God made the sun and the Earth stand still to allow the Jews to prevail2

5. The Wicked Will Hide in Caves and Beg For Death. Josh. 10:15-21.

6. Satan’s Servants Will All Face God’s Judgment. Josh. 10:22-27.

7. Jesus’ Final Judgment Foreshadowed Through His Seven Victories. Josh. 10:28-43.

(1) God’s judgment at Makkedah. After killing the King of Makkedah, Joshua brought God’s judgment upon the men of Makkedah for their idolatry: “28 Now Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword; he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it. He left no survivor. Thus he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.” (Josh. 10:28). Although not stated in these judgments, Joshua would not have killed the women and children under God’s Law. They would have become part of Israel (Dt. 20:14).

(2) God’s judgment at Libnah. After bringing judgment upon the people of Makkedah for their idolatry, Joshua brought judgment upon the people of Libnah: “29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah, and fought against Libnah. 30 The Lord gave it also with its king into the hands of Israel, and he struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor in it. Thus he did to its king just as he had done to the king of Jericho.” (Josh. 10:29-30).

(3) God’s judgment at Lachish. Joshua then brought God’s judgment upon the people of Lachish and their allies, the people of Gezer: “31 And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish, and they camped by it and fought against it. 32 The Lord gave Lachish into the hands of Israel; and he captured it on the second day, and struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that he had done to Libnah. 33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua defeated him and his people until he had left him no survivor.” (Josh. 10:31-33).

(4) God’s victory at Eglon. Following the judgment of Lachish, Joshua brought judgment upon the people of Eglon: “34 And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon, and they camped by it and fought against it. 35 They captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; and he utterly destroyed that day every person who was in it, according to all that he had done to Lachish.” (Josh. 10:34-35).

(5) God’s judgment at Hebron. After bringing judgment to the people of Eglon, Joshua brought judgment to the people of Hebron: “36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron, and they fought against it. 37 They captured it and struck it and its king and all its cities and all the persons who were in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor, according to all that he had done to Eglon. And he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it.” (Josh. 10:36-37).

(6) God’s judgment at Debir. The judgment of Hebron was followed by the judgment of Debir: “38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to Debir, and they fought against it. 39 He captured it and its king and all its cities, and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed every person who was in it. He left no survivor. Just as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had also done to Libnah and its king.” (Josh. 10:38-39).

(7) God’s judgment over the southern kingdoms. Finally, Joshua brought God’s judgment upon the southern kingdoms: “40 Thus Joshua struck all the land, the hill country and the Negev and the lowland and the slopes and all their kings. He left no survivor, but he utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41 Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea even as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen even as far as Gibeon. 42 Joshua captured all these kings and their lands at one time, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. 43 So Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.” (Josh. 10:40-43). The pattern of His various judgments against these nations should serve as both a warning and a wake up call.

God leads the Jews to defeat the southern Canaanite kingdoms (in orange)3